John J. Forbes

John J. Forbes (November 21, 1885 – October 17, 1975) was an American mining engineer. He served as the 9th director of the U.S. Bureau of Mines.

Early life and education Forbes was born on November 21, 1885, in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, to Bridget (née Buggy) and John T. Forbes.

His first job was as a breaker boy at a local colliery at the age of ten. He later attended Pennsylvania State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in mining engineering in 1911.

U.S. Bureau of Mines Forbes joined the U.S. Bureau of Mines in February 1915 as a first aid miner. He then worked as a foreman miner, junior mining engineer, mining engineer, senior mining engineer and principal mining engineer. In July 1927, Forbes was appointed supervising engineer and was assigned to the safety division in Pittsburgh. During two work stoppages in 1943 and 1945, Forbes was appointed Anthracite Regional Manager in the Coal Region of Northeastern Pennsylvania for the Solid Fuels Administration.

He was not confirmed by the U.S. Senate until February 20, 1952. Tom Lyon was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to replace Forbes, but withdrew his nomination following a 1953 Senate confirmation. In 1954, Forbes decreased the number of regional directorates to five in the bureau.

Death Forbes died on October 17, 1975, at Polyclinic Hospital in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.